While many Type 2 diabetics take insulin, others are able to control their condition with some combination of diet, exercise and oral medication. All diabetes pills are members of one of six classes of drugs: sulfonylureas, meglitinides, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and the newest, dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors.
There also are two new types of injected drugs other than insulin that are used for some Type 2 diabetics. Here are some of the increasingly wide variety of prescription drugs that your doctor may prescribe to help you control Type 2 diabetes.
Drug |
Generic Name or Active Ingredient |
Method of Action |
Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitors |
| Januvia |
Sitagliptin |
First in the class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase IV, or DPP-4, inhibitors that work to enhance the body's own ability to lower blood sugar. |
Sulfonylureas |
| Sulfonylurea drugs, which have been in use since the 1950s, stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas to release more insulin. They are generally taken one to two times a day, before meals. All
sulfonylurea drugs have similar effects on blood glucose levels, but differ
in side effects, how often they are taken, and interactions with other drugs. |
| Diabinese |
Chlorpropamide |
First generation sulfonylurea |
| Orinaze |
Tolbutamide |
First generation sulfonylurea |
| Tolinase |
Tolazamide |
First generation sulfonylurea |
| Glucotrol XL |
Glipizide |
|
| Diabeta |
Glyburide |
|
| Micronase |
Glyburide |
|
| Glynase |
Glyburide |
|
| Amaryl |
Glimepiride |
|
Meglitinides |
| Meglitinides stimulate the beta cells of the pancrease to release insulin. They are taken before each of three meals. |
| Prandin |
Repaglinide |
|
| Starlix |
Nateglinide |
|
Biguranides |
| Biguanides lower blood glucose levels primarily by decreasing the amount of glucose produced by the liver. Metformin also makes muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin so glucose can be absorbed. It is usually taken two times a day (XR once a day) |
| Glucophage |
Metformin |
|
| Glucophage XR |
Metformin extended release |
|
Thiazolidinediones |
| These drugs help insulin work better in the muscle and fat and also reduce glucose production in the liver. Thiazolidinediones are taken once or twice a day with food. |
| Avandia |
Rosiglitazone |
|
| Actos |
Pioglitazone |
|
Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors |
These drugs help lower blood glucose levels by blocking the breakdown of starches in the intestine. They also slow the breakdown of some sugars, such as table sugar. Their action slows the rise in blood glucose levels after a meal. They should be taken with the first bite of a meal. |
| Precose |
Acarbose |
|
| Glyset |
Meglitol |
|
Combination Therapy |
| Because the drugs listed above act in different ways to lower blood glucose levels, they may be used together. Many combinations can be used. Combining oral medications can improve blood glucose control when taking only a
single pill does not have the desired effects. Here are some of the most common. |
| Glucovance |
Glyburide and Metformin |
|
| Metaglip |
Glipizide and Metformin |
|
| Avandaryl |
Pioglitazone and Glimepiride |
|
| Avandamet |
Rosiglitazone and Metformin |
|
| ActosPlus Met |
Miglitol plus Metformin |
|
Incretin Mimetics
|
| These injectable medications mimic the body's natural hormones that help control blood sugar levels. Symlin is a replacement for amylin, a pancreatic hormone, while Byetta mimcs the action of exendin-4, a hormone that interacts with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the body to help regulate blood sugar. |
| Byetta |
Exenatide (injection) |
Stimulates insulin secretion only when blood sugar is high, lowering both postmeal and fasting glucose levels. |
| Symlin |
Pramlintide (injection) |
Lowers the level of sugar in your blood by slowing rate at which food (including glucose) is absorbed from the intestine, and reducing production of glucose by the liver. |
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